Warner Robins Looks Into Minor League Baseball

The International City could become home to its own Minor League Baseball Team.

Mayor Chuck Shaheen says he is planning to see if a plan to bring a new stadium and team to the town would generate community interest. If so, they would plan on putting together a proposal to MLB teams and see which would be interested.

"I think this is something that's very, very possible," says Andy Burress, a former minor leaguer in the Cincinatti Reds system who now owns Chain Baseball in Warner Robins.

He has been working with Shaheen and others, and says the new team would most likely be an A or double AA team. "It's more of, hey, let's look in the A ball which would be a lot less expensive, and then build from there," Burress says.

Many in Warner Robins say the town is already a sports-friendly community. The town is home to the Little League's Southeast Regional Stadium, and the town's Little League teams have drawn attention for winning the world series.

It's why some in the community say having a minor league team would be a logical next step. "I couldn't see how they wouldn't support it," says Debbie McMahon Levitt, who owns a Crossfit City of Athletes in Warner Robins. "You would be able to keep all your athletes in Middle Georgia, and what more could you ask for than that."

But some others say the cost of building a stadium might concern them. "We're not big sports fans as of yet. My children are still fairly young, but I'm sure anybody would have that reservation," says Kristi Dotson of Kathleen.

The last Minor League Baseball team to play in the region was the Macon Music, which folded in 2007. Macon also hosted the Macon Braves and Macon Peaches in the past. If this proposal moves forward, it would be the first in Houston County.